Definition

Adjective: - Excellent or splendid: Used to describe something of exceptionally high quality, style, or appeal. It is an old-fashioned, chiefly British term expressing enthusiastic approval.

Usage

This adjective is used informally, often humorously or to sound deliberately old-fashioned, to express that something is very good or impressive. It typically functions as an attributive adjective (before a noun) or a predicate adjective (after a linking verb like 'be').

Examples

• Attributive use (before a noun):
  • We had a spiffing time at the garden party.
  • He wore a spiffing new suit to the interview.
• Predicate use (after a linking verb):
  • The weather today is absolutely spiffing!
  • Your plan for the weekend sounds spiffing.

Advanced Usage

• "Absolutely spiffing": A common intensifier phrase used for emphasis.
  • The service at the hotel was absolutely spiffing.
• Used to evoke a particular upper-class or historical British tone, often in literature or period dramas.

Variants and Related Words

• Spiffy (adjective): Modern, chiefly North American variant meaning smart, stylish, or excellent.
  • He arrived in a spiffy new car.
• Spiff (verb, informal): To make something neat or smart.
  • I need to spiff myself up before the meeting.

Synonyms

• Excellent
• Splendid
• Superb
• Capital (also old-fashioned British)
• First-rate

Antonyms

• Dreadful
• Awful
• Poor
• Mediocre

Notes

The word 'spiffing' is now considered dated and is used primarily for humorous effect, to sound quaint, or in historical contexts. Its usage often carries a connotation of British upper-class or public-school slang from the late 19th to mid-20th century.

Adjective

1. excellent or splendid
   • that's a perfectly spiffing idea